Letters to the Editor, June 28

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi (right) holds a press conference surrounded by chief deputies including Matt Freeman (left) regarding investigations on the recent inmate escape in his office at City Hall in San Francisco, California, on Friday, April 10, 2015.

Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle

“Self-driving? Keep them to yourself” (Business, June 21) is somewhat narrowly focused on the right to drive. We also need to consider that today’s cars unwittingly bring us the right to die. Suppose you could significantly reduce the thousands of deaths per year from motor vehicle crashes, and save more pedestrians and bike related deaths each year. Self-driving cars bring many benefits, including the freedom to be safer on public roads. This is a benefit to the driver and passengers, but equally important for neighborhoods and community.

Driverless cars will not eliminate accidents, but they will significantly reduce their numbers, and the severity. Nearly 90 percent of all automobile accidents are due to human error and about 40 percent involve alcohol, drugs, distraction or fatigue. Fewer accidents will also reduce traffic congestion.

Jane Gould, Tiburon

Lasting energy

“California needs electric rates for the 21st century” (Open Forum, June 21) brings to light the fact that the California Public Utilities Commission is making decisions now that will have lasting impacts on California’s ability to go solar. Along with harmful changes to rates, major utilities are pushing the CPUC to weaken one of the most important pillars of rooftop solar progress, a program called net metering. Net metering gives solar customers fair credit on their utility bills for excess clean electricity. This program has helped make solar power an option for many thousands of working-class families, schools, businesses and houses of worship across the state.

Last week’s climate encyclical from Pope Francis serves to remind us that, regardless of our religious beliefs, we have a moral imperative to protect our planet and our fellow humans by speeding the transition to clean energy. California should build on our solar success by protecting the programs that are working and continuing to expand solar access in our communities.

Susan Stephenson, San Francisco

GOP gun rights

Something occurred to me regarding mass shootings, whether aimed at a particular group as in Charleston, S.C., or just anyone unlucky enough to be present, like in Colorado. They are insufficient to move politicians to act on gun safety. I believe that Republicans, like the current crop of GOP presidential candidates, secretly applaud the opportunity to throw red meat to their base. When else can they fall all over each other to so flagrantly demonstrate their love of guns and insensitivity to the victims?

Jeremy Snitkin, Novato

Take off blinders

Seems like everywhere you go in San Francisco, commercial and residential units are being added, no doubt thousands of them, all requiring new water hookups. Do city officials have any awareness of the drought we’re in? Is it OK to keep sucking up water we really don’t have, making a risky bet that many years of better-than-average rainfall are coming?

This city focuses a lot on social engineering initiatives, and welcoming new dotcom businesses, all worthy efforts in different times. I think they’d better show more sense of responsibility toward our dwindling environmental resources, which are now in crisis mode. Take the blinders off!

David Stone, San Francisco

Politics problem

Regarding “Chief resilient amid scandals” (June 21): Does anyone else find it disconcerting from a public safety standpoint that Mayor Ed Lee has not spoken to the sheriff in three years? Our highest public official has a clear responsibility to interact on a regular basis with our elected sheriff, who has reached out to him on numerous occasions. Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi should not only have Lee’s ear, he should have his cooperation. The mayor would benefit from open association with the numerous fine programs that Sheriff Mirkarimi has instituted.

Vivian Imperiale, San Francisco

Struggling dads

I was disappointed by “Dutiful dads” (June 21). To give front-page coverage to the life-work balance challenges of well-paid Silicon Valley male executives ignored all the hard-working men and women who do not live a life of privilege. How about focusing on low-wage parents, including those working two part-time jobs at minimum pay, who carve out time to help with homework or coach their children. Parents who do not have the luxury of “flying under the radar” or taking their children around the world for a year would have better reflected the reality of most of your readers.